PyExoCross 2.0: A Python Framework for LTE and non-LTE Spectra, Cross Sections, and Spectroscopic Post-processing of Atomic and Molecular Line Lists
astro-ph.IM, astro-ph.EP, physics.chem-ph
Submitted: 2026-09-15
Updated: 2026-09-15
Comments: 24 pages, 7 figures
Code: https://github.com/ExoMol/PyExoCross
Project page: https://www.exomol.com
License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
The gist: PyExoCross is a Python-based spectroscopic post-processing framework for converting large atomic and molecular line lists into scientifically useful quantities, including partition function, specific
Terminology
Abstract
PyExoCross is a Python-based spectroscopic post-processing framework for converting large atomic and molecular line lists into scientifically useful quantities, including partition function, specific heats, cooling functions, lifetimes, oscillator strengths, line intensities, stick spectra, and absorption and emission cross sections. It is intended for applications in astrophysics, planetary atmospheres, laboratory spectroscopy, and other high-temperature environments where large modern databases require efficient and reproducible computational treatment. The new release provides both a configuration-file-driven command-line interface (CLI) and a Python application programming interface (API) within a unified computational framework. The original input file workflow is retained, while the Python API enables direct use in scripts, notebooks, and automated pipelines. The version PyExoCross 2.0 also adds explicit support for non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (non-LTE) calculations, including two-temperature models and user-defined density and population treatments for both absorption and emission spectra. In addition, database compatibility has been expanded beyond ExoMol, HITRAN, and HITEMP line lists to include high-resolution molecular database ExoMolHR and atomic database ExoAtom. GPU acceleration is also introduced for computationally intensive intensity and cross-section calculations and is available for all currently supported database formats. These developments improve workflow flexibility, reproducibility, and integration with modern data-analysis environments, while extending the physical modelling capabilities of the code. PyExoCross therefore provides a more general and extensible platform for large-scale spectroscopic simulations based on modern atomic and molecular databases.
Related papers
- A signal dedispersion algorithm for imaging-based transient searches
- AVICA: A fully automated CASA pipeline for large volume VLBI data calibration
- Spectral Map Making with SPHEREx
- Long-Integration Magnetar Burst Observatory (LIMBO): Instrument Summary and Early FRB Rate Constraints
- Towards independent event horizon imaging of the supermassive black holes in M87 and the Milky Way
- A PINK update: Improvements to the CELEBI fast radio burst data reduction and analysis pipeline